The Day We Met Mason: Our Story of Love and Loss

When we first found out we were pregnant with Mason, to be honest, we were a little surprised. But once the shock wore off, the excitement quickly settled in. As the weeks went on, that excitement only grew. We started dreaming about life with him – about who he would be, what he would love, and how our family would look with him in it.

The pregnancy went smoothly. The only concern was a minor kidney issue, which is common in boys and eventually resolved itself by 32 weeks.

We began preparing Mason’s room, setting up his things, and getting our toddler son, Tyler, ready to be a big brother. At first, Tyler wasn’t so sure about this whole "baby brother" thing, but the closer we got, the more excited he became. It felt like everything was falling into place.

Fast forward to my 38-week appointment on Thursday, December 26th, 2024 - everything looked perfect! We were ready! That weekend, I started feeling on-and-off contractions. And by Tuesday, December 31st, 2024, they became stronger and closer together - it was finally time to meet our baby!

We arrived at the hospital full of excitement (and a bit of nerves, to be honest). The nurses began their usual checks, but then they couldn’t find Mason’s heartbeat with the doppler. They performed two different ultrasounds and then came the words that will forever be etched into my soul: “I’m sorry, but your baby doesn’t have a heartbeat.”

It felt like the room collapsed around me. Everything became muffled, like I was underwater. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. And then they brought my husband, Ryan, back to my room and I had to watch them tell him the news as well. At that moment, I had to watch them shatter his world too.

In an instant, one of the happiest days of our lives became our worst nightmare. We were asked so many questions: Which type of delivery for your stillbirth would you prefer to do? Do you want a baptism or a blessing? Would you like to do any testing to see possibily what happened?

Would you like to do a burial or cremation? The list went on and on. These are decisions no parent should ever have to make. One of my decisions was to do a c-section for delivery because I had done one with Tyler so it was something I was very familiar with. The difference was that instead of hearing Mason’s cries, there was silence. Deafening silence. There was no joy, no baby cries, no celebration. Just silence. That sound is something that I think will stay with me for the rest of my life.

We later learned that Mason passed away due to complications from passing his meconium in the womb. This led to a deterioration of his umbilical cord, which affected his oxygen supply. It was something no one could have predicted or known.

Since then, we've had to learn to navigate each second, each minute, each hour, and each day without our little one. To call it a rollercoaster would be a true understatement. The first few weeks were the most challenging time we've ever experienced. Honestly, without Tyler and the love and support from our family and friends, I'm not sure how we would have gotten through it.

Since then, I’ve learned that grief doesn’t disappear. It changes. It shifts. It becomes a part of your tapestry of life. And while the pain will never fully go away, I’ve found ways to carry it with love, not just loss.

Mason changed me. He changed all of us. And though he isn’t here physically, his presence continues to guide everything I do. He has taught me more in his short life than I have learned in my 32 years of living.

Mason’s Way was born out of my love for him – a path I never asked to walk, but one I now walk for other moms too. If you’ve experienced a miscarriage, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth, please know: you are not alone. Your grief is real. Your baby matters. And there is light, even in the darkest places.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. I carry Mason’s memory in all that I do, and I’m honored to walk alongside you on your healing journey.